Nashville Autism Peer Support
Welcomes You!

According to the National Institute of Mental Health:

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological and developmental disorder that affects how people interact with others, communicate, learn, and behave. Although autism can be diagnosed at any age, it is described as a “developmental disorder” because symptoms generally appear in the first two years of life.

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), a guide created by the American Psychiatric Association that healthcare providers use to diagnose mental disorders, people with ASD often have:

Difficulty with communication and interaction with other people Restricted interests and repetitive behaviors Symptoms that affect their ability to function in school, work, and other areas of life

Autism is known as a “spectrum” disorder because there is wide variation in the type and severity of symptoms people experience. People of all genders, races, ethnicities, and economic backgrounds can be diagnosed with ASD. Although ASD can be a lifelong disorder, treatments and services can improve a person’s symptoms and daily functioning.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all children receive screening for autism. Caregivers should talk to their child’s healthcare provider about ASD screening or evaluation. People with ASD have difficulty with social communication and interaction, restricted interests, and repetitive behaviors. The list below gives some examples of common types of behaviors in people diagnosed with ASD. Not all people with ASD will have all behaviors, but most will have several of the behaviors listed below. Social communication/interaction behaviors may include:

• Making little or inconsistent eye contact

• Appearing not to look at or listen to people who are talking

• Infrequently sharing interest, emotion, or enjoyment of objects or activities (including by infrequently pointing at or showing things to others)

• Not responding or being slow to respond to one’s name or to other verbal bids for attention

• Having difficulties with the back and forth of conversation

• Often talking at length about a favorite subject without noticing that others are not interested or without giving others a chance to respond

• Displaying facial expressions, movements, and gestures that do not match what is being said

• Having an unusual tone of voice that may sound sing-song or flat and robot-like

• Having trouble understanding another person’s point of view or being unable to predict or understand other people’s actions

• Difficulties adjusting behaviors to social situations

• Difficulties sharing in imaginative play or in making friends

Restrictive/repetitive behaviors may include:

• Repeating certain behaviors or having unusual behaviors, such as repeating words or phrases (a behavior called echolalia)

• Having a lasting intense interest in specific topics, such as numbers, details, or facts

• Showing overly focused interests, such as with moving objects or parts of objects

• Becoming upset by slight changes in a routine and having difficulty with transitions

• Being more sensitive or less sensitive than other people to sensory input, such as light, sound, clothing, or temperature

• People may also experience sleep problems and irritability.

• People on the autism spectrum also may have many strengths, including:

• Being able to learn things in detail and remember information for long periods of time

• Being strong visual and auditory learners

• Excelling in math, science, music, or art